Have you ever actually fired a bear banger? Neither had I until yesterday. It’s really very simple using the pen-type launcher that come with the popular launcher kits. Slip the firing pin knob out of the safety lock position, pull it back as far as possible and let go. There is a moderately loud bang as the banger is ejected from the cartridge, a trail of smoke, and a few seconds later a loud bang as the banger explodes. There is no kickback when the cartridge fires and the cartridge is only slightly warm allowing you to unscrew it and reload right away. Although the pen launcher is a simple device and the cartridges appear innocuous, they are potentially dangerous and have the capacity to damage hearing and to cause burns if used improperly. So much for the mechanics. When and how do you use bangers in the event of a bear attack?
Before I get into the details let’s review the two types of noisemaking deterrents that are available: bangers and whistlers. Bangers (red cartridge) explode with a loud bang after travelling about 40 m. Whistlers (sometimes called screamers) come in a blue cartridge and project about 80 m. They produce a high-pitched screeching sound for 2-3 seconds until the end of flight. They are said to “… produce an unusual, alarming sound creating an immediate fear reaction in birds and animals.” They can be purchased in Calgary at Mountain Equipment Co-op, Russel Sports and Wholsale Sports.
So apart from scaring off a nuisance bear around camp, when should you use a bear banger? My experience with bears is that once they are aware of you they either take off, or ignore you and carry on feeding—in which case I take off. So it is unlikely you will use a banger unless the bear is showing signs of aggression and coming toward you. It makes sense to avoid having the banger go off behind the bear as it may drive it toward you. If you fire almost vertically up in the air the banger may technically go off between you and the bear, but so high above the bear that it may run toward you anyway. My inclination would be to aim the pen launcher a little to one side of the bear with a low trajectory so that it goes off fairly close to the bear. If using a whistle, which starts making a noise as soon as it leaves the launcher, I would aim it the same way, but with a higher trajectory. So much for theory. Has anyone used bangers or whistlers in an actual bear encounter?
The best way to deal with bears is to avoid a bear encounter in the first place. Keep you head up, your eyes open and your senses alert when in the backcountry.
True Flare Pen Launcher Kit with Bangers and Whistlers
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
What i was told at MEC was to fire bangers straight up, so you dont risk driving the bear back towards you. They are easily loud enough to startle and chase off a bear even at range.
I’ve used bangers and screamers several times over the past 10-15 years. They are quite effective, and certainly to be preferred to spray (which I have never had to use, except on nasty dawgs when I’m cycling); I’m not even sure it would work on a truly aggressive griz.
It’s certainly true that one should avoid bears and bear encounters as best one can and thus avoid using the banger/screamer — making loud noises, whistles (if they don’t sound like birds), and (in my case) singing are all good alternatives. But they do not eliminate all encounters, especially around streams or when the wind is blowing.
It’s true that one should have some control over trajectory when firing a banger/screamer, although most of the time you will be in something of a hurry — and perhaps with slightly shaky hands; in such instances, the fine points of aiming won’t exactly be paramount in your thinking. But that’s not a really big deal: what the banger/screamer does is get the bear’s attention and indicate that you are not as helpless as you might at first appear. Most of the bears I have scared this way look around after hearing the report, size up the situation, and then amble (rarely do they run) off in a direction opposite to me. Fortunately. Some are merely amused enough to leave the area, others are clearly somewhat frightened; in either case, the avoidance behaviour for human contact is a good thing all around.
However, even though I have never had a bear charge after hearing a banger/screamer, I am — just in case — already busy screwing another cartridge onto the banger and unlimbering my spray. Not to mention sizing up nearby trees for low-hanging limbs.
I should note that most of these encounters have been solo adventures; a larger group likely would not have serious problems with a bear. There was one trip where a group of three of us, in a completely uncoordinated fashion, fired off a salvo of three bangers. That poor Rocky Mountain griz is likely now catching salmon on the coast.
Hope this helps.
I just lost my grandson to a bear banger my grandson was from rockymoutain house alberta you might of herd of the accident .I did not see any where that the bear banger can case death if fired at a person .My grandson would have turned 16 on the 5 of november some kid his friend picked it up and didn’t no what it was shot it off and hit my grandson now we have lost our little angel I just thought that you should put a warning that bear bangers can kill as well thank you for your time .Mark kennedy
I have had to use these types many times and from my experence always point them up, they are very effective and as for aiming them towards the bear they all have slightly different distances that thet fly to so it is impossible to gauge the right trajectory. And if you miss and pass the bear the situation can change into a deadly confrontation with the bear. Another reason is that if fired on a low path it can start a forest fire. Please take this advice and have a great time exploring the wilderness.